Association of Pediatric Hearing Quality and Sports Participation: A Population-Based Study

Sports-related injuries, such as concussion, during childhood may result in considerable morbidity, including a range of negative developmental consequences. Auditory dysfunction is generally recognized to be a possible sequela of sports-related concussion; however, few epidemiologic studies have quantified the association between hearing quality and sports-related activity in the pediatric population. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for the 2015-2016 cycle was utilized to determine the association of sports activities and hearing quality. Subjective abnormal hearing quality was more frequent among children who played football than those that did not (36.5% vs 26.8%; odds ratio, 1.56 [95% CI, 1.23-2.00]; P = .001). Other sports, such as basketball and soccer, did not have this association with hearing quality ( P = .496 and P = .852, respectively). Our findings suggest a notable association between practice of a potentially high concussion sport and hearing quality. Children practicing football are 1.56 times more likely to report abnormal hearing quality. Level of Evidence: 4.

Potential role of adjuvant micronutrient therapy in the management of respiratory tract infections: a narrative review

Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are highly prevalent and variable in nature, and are accountable for considerable morbidity and mortality. Acute respiratory tract infections (ARIs) are the third leading cause of death worldwide and the most common cause of antibiotic prescription among adults. It is common knowledge that inappropriate or overuse of antibiotics for RTIs is a crucial contributing factor with respect to the emergence of microbes that are resistant to the drug’s effects. Overuse of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance is a global issue that is becoming a serious concern. There is a growing need for novel approaches and adjuvant therapies for such infections, particularly in the setting of worsening antibacterial resistance. The strategy of supporting the immune system of the host in advance of infection exposure would decrease the number and severity of infections and thus decrease antibiotic use. Micronutrients have varied roles throughout every stage of the immune system and help in strengthening and maintaining immune function. Deficiencies of micronutrients are associated with varied health outcomes and can impact both innate and adaptive immunity profoundly, causing immunosuppression and thus leading to increased susceptibility to infections. Moreover, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the factors that help the proper functioning of the immune system have garnered much interest and hence the maintenance of an optimal status of certain micronutrients could be particularly beneficial.

Epicardial and Endocardial Ablation Based on Channel Mapping in Patients With Ventricular Tachycardia and Chronic Chagasic Cardiomyopathy: Importance of Late Potential Mapping During Sinus Rhythm to Recognize the Critical Substrate

Background Ventricular tachycardia (VT) in patients with chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC) is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Catheter ablation of VT in patients with CCC is very complex and challenging. The main goal of this work was to assess the efficacy of VT catheter ablation guided by late potentials (LPs) in patients with CCC. Methods and Results Seventeen consecutive patients with refractory VT and CCC were prospectively included in the study. Combined endo‐epicardial voltage and late activation mapping were obtained during baseline rhythm to define scarred and LP areas, respectively. The end point of the ablation procedure was the elimination of all identified LPs. Epicardial and endocardial dense scars (<0.5 mV) were detected in 17/17 and 15/17 patients, respectively. LPs were detected in the epicardial scars of 16/17 patients and in the endocardial scars of 14/15 patients. A total of 63 VTs were induced in 17 patients; 22/63 (33%) were stable and entrained, presenting LPs recorded in the isthmus sites. The end point of ablation was achieved in 15 of 17 patients. Ablation was not completed in 2 patients because of cardiac tamponade or vicinity of the phrenic nerve and circumflex artery. Three patients (2 with unsuccessful ablation) had VT recurrence during follow‐up (39 months). Conclusions Endo‐epicardial LP mapping allows us to identify the putative isthmuses of different VTs and effectively perform catheter ablation in patients with CCC and drug‐refractory VTs.

Near infra-red fluorescence identification of the thoracic duct to prevent chyle leaks during oesophagectomy

Background Chyle leaks following oesophagectomy are a frustrating complication of surgery with considerable morbidity. The use of near infra-red (NIR) fluorescence in surgery is an emerging technology and the use of fluorescence to identify the thoracic duct has been demonstrated in animal work and early human case reports. This study evaluated the use mesenteric and enteral administration of indocyanine green (ICG) in humans to identify the thoracic duct during oesophagectomy. Methods Patients undergoing oesophagectomy were recruited to the study. Administration of ICG via an enteral route or mesenteric injection was evaluated. Fluorescence was assessed using a NIR fluorescence enabled laparoscope system with a visual scoring system and signal to background ratios. Visualisation of the thoracic duct under white light and NIR fluorescence was compared as well as any identification of active chyle leak. Patients were followed up post-operatively for adverse events and chyle leak. Results 20 patients received ICG and were included in the study. The enteral route failed to fluoresce the thoracic duct. Mesenteric injection (17 patients) identified the thoracic duct under fluorescence prior to white light in 70% of patients with a mean signal to background ratio of 5.35. In 6 participants, a possible active chyle leak was identified under fluorescence with 4 showing active chyle leak from what was identified as the thoracic duct. Conclusion This study demonstrates that ICG administration via mesenteric injection can highlight the thoracic duct during oesophagectomy and may be a potential technology to reduce chyle leak following surgery. Clinical trial registration Clinical trials.gov (NCT03292757).

A Nationwide Study of GATA2 Deficiency in Norway—the Majority of Patients Have Undergone Allo-HSCT

Purpose GATA2 deficiency is a rare primary immunodeficiency that has become increasingly recognized due to improved molecular diagnostics and clinical awareness. The only cure for GATA2 deficiency is allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). The inconsistency of genotype–phenotype correlations makes the decision regarding “who and when” to transplant challenging. Despite considerable morbidity and mortality, the reported proportion of patients with GATA2 deficiency that has undergone allo-HSCT is low (~ 35%). The purpose of this study was to explore if detailed clinical, genetic, and bone marrow characteristics could predict end-point outcome, i.e., death and allo-HSCT. Methods All medical genetics departments in Norway were contacted to identify GATA2 deficient individuals. Clinical information, genetic variants, treatment, and outcome were subsequently retrieved from the patients’ medical records. Results Between 2013 and 2020, we identified 10 index cases or probands, four additional symptomatic patients, and no asymptomatic patients with germline GATA2 variants. These patients had a diverse clinical phenotype dominated by cytopenia (13/14), myeloid neoplasia (10/14), warts (8/14), and hearing loss (7/14). No valid genotype–phenotype correlations were found in our data set, and the phenotypes varied also within families. We found that 11/14 patients (79%), with known GATA2 deficiency, had already undergone allo-HSCT. In addition, one patient is awaiting allo-HSCT. The indications to perform allo-HSCT were myeloid neoplasia, disseminated viral infection, severe obliterating bronchiolitis, and/or HPV-associated in situ carcinoma. Two patients died, 8 months and 7 years after allo-HSCT, respectively. Conclusion Our main conclusion is that the majority of patients with symptomatic GATA2 deficiency will need allo-HSCT, and a close surveillance of these patients is important to find the “optimal window” for allo-HSCT. We advocate a more offensive approach to allo-HSCT than previously described.

Estimates of Prevalence of Pulmonary Hypertension according to Different International Definitions

Background. Pulmonary hypertension is a dreaded disease associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. The pulmonary hypertension developing due to chronic respiratory disease is a unique subset with symptoms often getting masqueraded by the underlying respiratory condition. The importance of early detection of this complication has been realized worldwide, and recently, the definition of pulmonary hypertension was revised to set the cutoff of mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) at 20 mmHg instead of 25 mmHg at rest. In our study, we have tried to estimate the difference this new definition brings to the prevalence of pulmonary hypertension among interstitial lung disease patients at our centre. Methods. This was a cross-sectional study in which all the patients of ILDs (n = 239) attending the outdoor and indoor Department of Respiratory Medicine, King George’s Medical University, India, for the duration of one year were subjected to transthoracic echocardiography along with measurement of serum pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and troponin T values. The data were analyzed using the different definitions, and the prevalence was compared. Result. Incidence of pulmonary hypertension among ILD patients at mPAP cutoff ≥ 25 was 28.9%, while that at value ≥20 mmHg, incidence of pulmonary hypertension increased to 46.0%. An increment of 15–20% in incidence of pulmonary hypertension was observed among different types of ILD when cutoff of mPAP was changed. Conclusion. The new definition helps in a significant increase in the detection of pulmonary hypertension, which certainly helps in earlier detection and better management of patients.

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Background: Khalwa is a boarding school that specializes in teaching Quran and Islamic principles. Otorhino-laryngological diseases are very common in children, and the cause of considerable morbidity. They include a range of diseases from as simple as common cold to as disabling as hearing loss. This study aims to determine the pattern of ORL diseases in Mustafa Alfadni,Khalwa and more specifically to assess the presence of symptoms and signs of Ear, Nose and Throat diseases and to measure it’s prevalence among Khalwa students.Methods: this study was a cross-sectional facility- based study, carried out at Mustafa Alfadni Quran recitation (Khalwa) in suburb of Sharq alneel in Khartoum state. All of the students of this Khalwa were involved. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire composed of demographic data, medical and health history, clinical examination using check list followed by physical assessment by a tuning fork for weber’s and rhinne tests, otoscope. diagnosis was done by an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS software.Results: 116 khalwa students aged between 6 and 24 years with mean of 13.7 +-2.7 years were involved. 10.4% of the respondents were complaining of ear pain, 7.8% were suffering from tinnitus, 18.1% complained of nasal obstruction, 6% of them were suffering from facial pain, 23% were complaining of sneezing. 18.8% of the respondents suffered from epistaxis and 14.7% of them had sore throat. Medical examination revealed that, 25.8% had ear wax. The tympanic membrane in 4.4% was retracted, in 1.8% was bulging and in 2.6% there was effusion behind it and it was perforated in 1.8%. Hearing loss was 20.8% as a conductive hearing loss, and 4.2% were found to have sensorineural hearing loss. 16% had tonsillitis, and 10.5% had otitis media.Conclusion: Khalwa students were suffering from ear discharge, sneezing, epistaxis and sore throat beside ear wax and tympanic membrane disturbance that complicated with hearing loss recommended to have health services and health education program in the Khalawi to decrease the suffering of otitis media and hearing loss and prevent its’ complication as well.

Impact of Diagnostic Delay on Disease Course in Pediatric Versus Adult-onset Patients with Ulcerative Colitis: Data from the Swiss IBD Cohort

Introduction: Given the lack of data we aimed to assess the impact of the length of diagnostic delay on natural history of ulcerative colitis in pediatric (diagnosed <18 years) and adult patients (diagnosed ≥18 years). Methods: Data from the Swiss Inflammatory Bowel Disease cohort study were analyzed. Diagnostic delay was defined as interval between the first appearance of UC-related symptoms until diagnosis. Logistic regression modeling evaluated the appearance of the following complications in the long term according to the length of diagnostic delay: colonic dysplasia, colorectal cancer, UC-related hospitalization, colectomy, and extra-intestinal manifestations (EIM). Results: A total of 184 pediatric and 846 adult patients were included. Median diagnostic delay was 4 [IQR 2-7.5] months for the pediatric-onset group and 3 [IQR 2-10] months for the adult-onset group (P=0.873). In both, pediatric and adult-onset groups, length of diagnostic delay at UC diagnosis was not associated with colectomy, UC-related hospitalization, colon dysplasia, and colorectal cancer. EIM were significantly more prevalent at UC diagnosis in the adult-onset group with long diagnostic delay compared to the adult-onset group with short diagnostic delay (p = 0.022). In the long term, length of diagnostic delay was associated in the adult onset group with colorectal dysplasia (p=0.023), EIMs (p<0.001) and more specifically arthritis/arthralgias (p<0.001) and ankylosing spondylitis/sacroiliitis (p<0.001). In the pediatric-onset UC group, length of diagnostic delay in the long term was associated with arthritis/arthralgias (p=0.017); however, it was not predictive for colectomy and UC-related hospitalization. Conclusions: As colorectal cancer and EIMs are associated with considerable morbidity and costs, every effort should be made to reduce diagnostic delay in UC patients.

Malignant tumors of the nose and paranasal sinuses: a retrospective review of a Portuguese cancer center’s experience

Introduction. Although uncommon from a population-based perspective, there is considerable morbidity and mortality associated with malignant tumors of the nose and paranasal sinuses.The objective of this study was to characterize the presentation, risk factors, management and survival of patients with these tumors treated at a single institution.Materials and methods. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of patients with malignancies of the nose and paranasal sinuses diagnosed between January 2010 and December 2014 at a tertiary cancer center. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed.Results. Ninety patients were included in the study. Mean age at diagnosis was 62.8 years (range, 2–95 years) and mean follow-up was 44.5 months (range, 2–113 months). The maxillary sinus (33.3 %) and the nasal cavity (32.2 %) were the most frequent sites of origin. Squamous cell carcinoma (36.7 %), mucosal melanoma (15.6 %) and adenoid cystic carcinoma (10 %) were the most common histologic subtypes. Surgery was the primary treatment for 86.7 % of patients. Recurrence occurred in 45 patients (50 %). The overall 5‑year survival was 39.3 % and disease free-survival was 45.9 %. Survival was significantly decreased in non-smokers (p = 0.022), T3–4 tumors (p = 0.007), positive lymph nodes (p <0.001), nonepithelial tumors (p = 0.036) and positive margins (p = 0.032). Survival was not affected by surgical approach between endoscopic, open and combined approaches (p = 0.088).Conclusion. Prognosis is poor, with high recurrences and low survival, but clearly histology, location and stage-dependent. Sound oncologic principles, with complete resections and negative margins, result in a better outcome.